If you’re about to retire, you may be thinking about moving. Many seniors move to retirement communities for a number of reasons. Some love starting a new life in their golden years, while others find that the environment is much better for their health. But moving for retirement has a few extra things you need to consider than if you were just moving due to a new job or other reason. Here are a few things you should ask your gay or lesbian real estate agent about before you make the move.
The Community Attitude isn’t Everything
Many people ask about how the community views its LGBT neighbors and if they will be accepted. That’s definitely something you need to ask about no matter what your age, but when you’re retiring, you also have to consider that you may eventually be in need of assisted living or nursing home facilities. Are there assisted living facilities in the city that are LGBT-friendly? Learn about the cost and the benefits of these facilities so that if you do ever need to move to one, you’ll know which ones in the area are more likely to be more open-minded.
Healthcare
Finding an LGBT-friendly doctor is another concern that all LGBT people share, but it’s especially important as you get older since you may need to see a healthcare professional more often. In most cases, people move and then find healthcare, but for seniors, it may be a good idea to research the doctors and personal home care experts in the area before you make your final choice, especially if you have a rare or chronic illness.
Consider an LGBT Retirement Community
More and more LGBT retirement communities are popping up thanks to the success of places such as RainbowVision and Triangle Square. RainbowVision is located in Santa Fe, a city already popular with retirees, while Triangle Square is located in Los Angeles. While both communities are marketed mostly to LGBT seniors, they are open to anyone. RainbowVision, in fact, has about a 3:1 LGBT to straight ratio. There are no other restrictions in place, either—there’s no age requirement, for example. RainbowVision even includes a small number of assisted living in addition to condos.
Is there an Active LGBT Senior Community?
Many seniors, especially those who move to an area away from their family members, become somewhat isolated. If you’re afraid that could happen to you simply because you’re new to the area, look to see if there’s an active senior community. An LGBT retirement community will obviously have this, but many other retirement communities will have groups that are quite welcoming.
